US10441375B2 - Medical instrument and adjustment method of medical instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

A medical instrument according to the present invention includes an end effector that fulfills a predetermined function, a motor unit that generates power for driving the end effector, a transmission member that is connected to the end effector and the motor unit so as to transmit the power to the end effector, a tension holding portion that has a tension generation portion and a tension pulley which is connected to the tension generation portion and which comes into contact with the transmission member the tension pulley being configured to move such that tension applied to the transmission member in a predetermined magnitude, and a switch that can fix a position of the tension pulley.

Description

This application is a continuation application based on a PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2015/066014, filed on Jun. 3, 2015, whose priority is claimed on Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-142574, filed on Jul. 10, 2014. The contents of both of the PCT International Application and the Japanese Patent Application are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a medical instrument, and more specifically relates to a medical instrument used by being inserted into a body of a patient, and an adjustment method of the medical instrument.

Description of Related Art

In the related art, a medical instrument has been widely used in which a distal end of an elongated insertion portion is provided with an end effector for observation or treatment. According to such a medical instrument, in order to bend the insertion portion or to drive the end effector, a drive force is transmitted to a distal end side in some cases. As a transmission member for transmitting the drive force, a wire such as a single wire or a stranded wire which is formed of a metal wire is generally used.

In a case where the insertion portion of the medical instrument is a flexible insertion portion, when the medical instrument is inserted into the body of the patient, the insertion portion may meander or may be bent. In such a case, a route length of the transmission member inserted into the insertion portion may vary. Accordingly, a magnitude of tension applied to the transmission member varies, compared to an initial state before the medical instrument is inserted into the body of the patient. As a result, if the transmission member becomes partially slack, responsivity with respect to the driving force by the transmission member becomes worse, thereby causing a problem in terms of accuracy in drive control or operability.

Regarding the problem, a slack adjustment device for an endoscope which can remove slack in an angle operating wire functioning as the transmission member is disclosed in the Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H8-19511. According to the device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No. H8-19511, a pulley having the angle operating wire hung thereon is attached to a slack removal member, and one end of the slack removal member is rotatably and axially supported by a casing. A user turns an adjusting screw by inserting a screwdriver into a hole disposed in the casing. In this manner, the user can remove the slack of the angle operating wire by rotating the slack removal member and moving the pulley.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a medical instrument includes an end effector that fulfills a predetermined function, a power portion that generates power for driving the end effector, a transmission member that is connected to the end effector and the power portion so as to transmit the power to the end effector, a tension holding portion that has a tension generation portion and a movable portion which is connected to the tension generation portion and with which the transmission member comes into contact, the movable portion being configured to move such that tension applied to the transmission member is maintained at a predetermined magnitude, and a fixing portion that is capable of fixing a position of the movable portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the medical instrument according to the first aspect, the tension generation portion may be formed of an elastic member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the medical instrument according to the first or second aspect, a plurality of the movable portions may be provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the medical instrument according to the third aspect, at least two of a plurality of the movable portions may be connected to each other in the tension generation portion.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the medical instrument according to any one of the first to fourth aspects may further include an instrument unit that has the end effector and the transmission member, and an adapter that has the power portion and the fixing portion. The power portion and the transmission portion may be connected to each other while the movable portion may be fixed to be immovable by the fixing portion, when the instrument unit is mounted on the adapter.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the medical instrument according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, an annular power transmission route may be formed between the power portion and the end effector by the transmission member.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustment method of a medical instrument including an end effector that fulfills a predetermined function, a power portion that generates power for driving the end effector, and a transmission member that is connected to the end effector and the power portion so as to transmit the power to the end effector. The adjustment method of the medical instrument includes applying a predetermined magnitude of tension to the transmission member by using a tension holding portion that has a tension generation portion and a movable portion which is connected to the tension generation portion and which comes into contact with the transmission member, and fixing a position of the movable portion.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the adjustment method of the medical instrument according to the seventh aspect may further include connecting the power portion and the transmission member to each other so that the power is capable of being transmitted until fixing a position of the movable portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a medical manipulator system which employs a medical instrument according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating an instrument unit of a medical instrument according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view schematically illustrating a drive mechanism of the instrument unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a structure of an adapter of the medical instrument according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state before the instrument unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to the adapter.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state where a motor unit and a main pulley are connected to each other.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state where a tension pulley is fixed.

FIG. 8 is a view schematically illustrating a drive mechanism of an instrument unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view schematically illustrating a drive mechanism according to a modification example of the instrument unit in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a view schematically illustrating a drive mechanism of an instrument unit according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating another example of a transmission member in the medical instrument according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a modification example of an end effector in the medical instrument according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a modification example of the end effector in the medical instrument according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a first embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 1 to 7. First of all, an example of a medical manipulator system which employs a medical instrument according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an example of the medical manipulator system, and illustrates a master slave-type medical manipulator system. The master slave-type medical manipulator system represents a system which has two type arms including a master arm and a slave arm and which performs remote control on the slave arm so as to follow an operation of the master arm.

The medical manipulator system illustrated inFIG. 1 includes a surgical operation table100, slave arms (manipulators)200ato200d, aslave control circuit400,master arms500aand500b, anoperation portion600, aninput processing circuit700, animage processing circuit800, and displays900aand900b.

The surgical operation table100 is a table on which a patient P who is an observation/treatment target is placed. A plurality of theslave arms200a,200b,200c, and200dare disposed at the vicinity of the surgical operation table100. Theslave arms200ato200dmay be installed in the surgical operation table100.

Theslave arms200a,200b,200c, and200dare configured to have a plurality of multi-degree of freedom joints, and the multi-degree of freedom joints are bent such that positions of instrument units and so on, which are mounted on a distal end side (side facing a body lumen of the patient P) of theslave arms200ato200d, are determined with respect to the patient P placed on the surgical operation table100. The multi-degree of freedom joints are individually driven by a power portion (not illustrated). As the power portion, it is possible to use a motor (servo motor) having a servo mechanism including an incremental encoder or a speed reducer, for example. The operation control is performed by theslave control circuit400.

In a case where the power portion of theslave arms200ato200dis driven, a drive amount of the power portion is detected by a position detector. A detection signal output from the position detector is input to theslave control circuit400. The detection signal causes theslave control circuit400 to detect the drive amount of theslave arms200ato200d.

Surgical power transmission adapters (hereinafter, simply referred to as “adapters”)220a,220b,220c, and220dare interposed between theslave arms200a,200b,200c, and200d, andinstrument units240a,240b,240c, and240d, and connect theslave arms200a,200b,200c, and200d, and theinstrument units240a,240b,240c, and240dto each other. Theadapters220ato220dhave a plurality of power portions which generate power for driving the mountedinstrument units240ato240d(details to be described later). Similarly to the power portion disposed in the slave arm, these power portions can employ the servo motor, for example. The operation control is performed by theslave control circuit400. In this manner, the power generated in the power portion inside the adapter is transmitted to the corresponding instrument unit, thereby driving the respective instrument units.

For example, theslave control circuit400 is configured to have a CPU or a memory. Theslave control circuit400 stores a predetermined program for controlling theslave arms200ato200d, and controls each operation of theslave arms200ato200dor theinstrument units240ato240din accordance with a control signal output from theinput processing circuit700. That is, based on the control signal output from theinput processing circuit700, theslave control circuit400 specifies an operation target slave arm (or instrument unit) of the master arm operated by an operator Op, and calculates a drive amount required for allowing the specified slave arm to move corresponding to an operation amount of the master arm operated by the operator Op.

Then, theslave control circuit400 controls an operation of the operation target slave arm of the master arm in accordance with the calculated drive amount. In this case, theslave control circuit400 inputs a drive signal to the corresponding slave arm. In accordance with a detection signal input from the position detector of the power portion in response to the operation of the corresponding slave arm, theslave control circuit400 controls a size or polarity of the drive signal so that the drive amount of the operation target slave arm reaches a target drive amount.

Themaster arms500aand500bare configured to include a plurality of link mechanisms. For example, a position detector such as an incremental encoder is disposed in each link configuring the link mechanism. The position detector detects an operation of each link, thereby causing theinput processing circuit700 to detect an operation amount of themaster arms500aand500b.

The medical manipulator system illustrated inFIG. 1 operates the four slave arms by using the twomaster arms500aand500b. It is necessary to appropriately switch the operation target slave arms of the master arm. For example, this switching is performed by the operator Op operating theoperation portion600. As a matter of course, this switching becomes unnecessary if operation targets are caused to correspond one to one by matching the number of the master arms and the number of the slave arms.

Theoperation portion600 has various operation members such as a switching button for switching the operation target slave arms of themaster arms500aand500b, a scaling changing switch for changing an operation ratio between a master and a slave, and a foot switch for emergency system stopping. In a case where any one of the operation members configuring theoperation portion600 is operated by the operator Op, an operation signal in accordance with the operation of the corresponding operation member is input from theoperation portion600 to theinput processing circuit700.

Theinput processing circuit700 analyzes the operation signal output from themaster arms500aand500band the operation signal output from theoperation portion600. In accordance with an analysis result of the operation signals, theinput processing circuit700 generates a control signal for controlling the medical manipulator system, and inputs the control signal to theslave control circuit400.

Theimage processing circuit800 performs various types of image processing for displaying an image signal input from theslave control circuit400, and generates image data for being displayed on an operator'sdisplay900aand an assistant'sdisplay900b. For example, the operator'sdisplay900aand the assistant'sdisplay900bare configured to include a liquid crystal display, and display an image based on the image data generated in theimage processing circuit800 in accordance with an image signal acquired via an observation instrument.

InFIG. 1, thereference numeral300 represents a drape for separating a region for performing sterilization treatment (clean region) and a region without performing the sterilization treatment (unclean region) from each other in the medical manipulator system according to the present embodiment.

According to the medical manipulator system configured as described above, if the operator Op operates themaster arms500aand500b, the corresponding slave arm and the instrument unit attached to the slave arm are operated in response to the movement of themaster arms500aand500b. In this manner, a desired manual technique can be used for the patient P.

Next, the medical instrument according to the present embodiment will be described. The medical instrument is configured to include the above-described instrument unit and the corresponding adapter.FIG. 2 is a view schematically illustrating a brief configuration of aninstrument unit2 according to the present embodiment. As the above-described instrument unit (for example,240d), theinstrument unit2 can be mounted on the adapter (for example,220d). As illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3, theinstrument unit2 includes anelongated insertion portion10 which has a joint, anend effector20 which is disposed in a distal portion of theinsertion portion10 and which fulfills a predetermined function, and adrive portion30 for driving the joint of the insertion portion and the end effector.

Theinsertion portion10 has a flexible portion11 which is disposed on a proximal side and which is flexible, and arigid portion12 which is disposed on a distal end side from the flexible portion11 and which is not flexible. A first joint13 is disposed in therigid portion12.

Theend effector20 according to the present embodiment has a pair ofjaws21 and22 and is connected to theinsertion portion10 via a second joint14. Theend effector20 can change a direction of a pair of thejaws21 and22 by driving the second joint14. A pair of thejaws21 and22 are opened or closed, thereby fulfilling a function as gripping forceps.

A structure of thedrive portion30 will be described later. Thedrive portion30 is mounted on the adapter, thereby bringing each portion of theinstrument unit2 including theend effector20 into a state where each portion can be driven.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a drive mechanism of theinstrument unit2. Thedrive portion30 has amain pulley31 connected to the power portion. Themain pulley31 and the second joint14 are connected to each other so as to configure an annular power transmission route and so that a drive force can be transmitted therebetween in such a way that alinear transmission member32 is fixed thereto while being wound one or more rounds. Thetransmission member32 has flexibility that thetransmission member32 can be deformed to match the meandering or bent flexible portion11 inside a patient's body and has rigidness that thetransmission member32 is not easily broken when driven. For example, thetransmission member32 can suitably employ a metal wire.

The power transmission route formed by thetransmission member32 is partially drawn out by anauxiliary pulley33 in a direction away from theinsertion portion10 and themain pulley31 inside thedrive portion30, and the power transmission route is partially hung on a tension pulley (movable portion)34 such that thetension pulley34 and thetransmission member32 are in contact with each other. Afirst end portion35aof a tension generation member (tension generation portion)35 is connected to thetension pulley34, and asecond end portion35bis fixed to ahousing36 which accommodates each mechanism of thedrive portion30. As long as thetension generation member35 can generate sufficient tension in view of a magnitude of initial tension to be applied to thetransmission member32, any configuration may be adopted, and for example, thetension generation member35 can suitably employ a metal tension spring.

Thetension pulley34 and thetension generation member35 function as thetension holding portion40 which applies a predetermined magnitude of initial tension to thetransmission member32 and which holds the tension applied to thetransmission member32 so as to be substantially constant. That is, due to the tension generated by thetension generation member35, thetension pulley34 is biased so as to pull thehung transmission member32 in the direction away from theinsertion portion10 and themain pulley31. As a result, thetension pulley34 is appropriately moved, thereby holding the magnitude of the tension applied to thetransmission member32 so as to be substantially constant.

Although not illustrated, thedrive portion30 further includes multiple sets of mechanisms having, the main pulley, the transmission member, and the tension holding portion. The first joint13 and a pair of thejaws21 and22 are also driven using the similar mechanism.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a structure of theadapter220d. The left side inFIG. 4 shows a front view of theadapter220d, and the right side shows a left side view of theadapter220d, which are partially broken and illustrated for the sake of description. Theadapter220dincludes amotor unit221 serving as a power portion, a switch (fixing portion)225 for switching on and off the function of thetension holding portion40, and anexterior member228 which accommodates themotor unit221 and theswitch225. Theexterior member228 has a shape corresponding to thehousing36 of theinstrument unit2.

Themotor unit221 has adrive shaft portion222 which can be connected to themain pulley31. If thedrive shaft portion222 and themain pulley31 are connected to each other, thedrive shaft portion222 is brought into a state where power generated in themotor unit221 can be transmitted to themain pulley31.

Theswitch225 has a rod-shapedmain body226 and an engagingportion227 disposed in a distal portion of themain body226. Themain body226 is inserted into a through-hole228aformed in theexterior member228 so that the engagingportion227 is located on an internal space side of theexterior member228. The engagingportion227 engages with an engaging-target portion34a(refer toFIG. 5) disposed in thetension pulley34, thereby holding a position of a rotary shaft of thetension pulley34 so as to be immovable. As an example of the engaging portion and the engaging-target portion,FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a serrated structure. However, a specific aspect of the engaging portion and the engaging-target portion is not limited thereto, and for example, various known engagement structures such as a frictional engagement structure can be appropriately selected and used. A size in the movement direction of thetension pulley34 or a size of a portion engaging with the engaging-target portion34ais set in the engagingportion227 so that the engagingportion227 can engage with the engaging-target portion34aeven in a state where thetension pulley34 is moved due to the holding tension applied to thetransmission member32.

Theswitch225 is movable forward or rearward with respect to theexterior member228 by operating aproximal portion226aof themain body226. Theswitch225 has a structure for holding a position relative to theexterior member228 and a structure for releasing the holding (both are not illustrated). For example, this structure can employ those which use a ratchet.

Although not illustrated, theadapter220dis further provided with multiple sets of mechanisms having the motor unit and the switch so as to correspond to the first joint13 and a pair ofjaws21 and22.

An operation at the time of using the medical instrument1 according to the present embodiment including theinstrument unit2 and theadapter220dwhich are configured as described above, and an adjustment method of the medical instrument according to the present embodiment will be described.

As illustrated inFIG. 5, in a state before theinstrument unit2 is attached to theadapter220d, due to tension generated in thetension generation member35, themain pulley31 is rotated, or thetension pulley34 is moved, thereby causing thetension holding portion40 to apply a predetermined magnitude of initial tension to thetransmission member32. If theinstrument unit2 is inserted into a patient's body, the flexible portion11 meanders or is bent inside the body, and the shape of the flexible portion11 may be changed. As a result, a route length of the transmission member may also be changed, and thetransmission member32 may be partially slack. Even in this case, if the movement of themain pulley31 and thetension pulley34 is not limited, thetension pulley34 of thetension holding portion40 is appropriately moved, and a magnitude of the tension applied to thetransmission member32 is held substantially constant, thereby removing the slack (first step in the adjustment method of the medical instrument).

When theinstrument unit2 in which the tension applied to thetransmission member32 is held substantially constant in the first step is attached to theadapter220d, thehousing36 of theinstrument unit2 and theexterior member228 are fitted together so as to face each other. In this manner, as illustrated inFIG. 6, themain pulley31 and themotor unit221, and the engaging-target portion34aof thetension pulley34 and the engagingportion227 of theswitch225 are positioned so as to face each other, and adrive shaft portion222 of themotor unit221 and themain pulley31 are connected to each other. As a result, themotor unit221 and thetransmission member32 are connected to each other so that power generated in themotor unit221 can be transmitted therebetween (second step).FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate a partially excluded view of theexterior member228 in order to clearly show the inside of theadapter220d.

When theswitch225 is in an initial state, even if thedrive shaft portion222 and themain pulley31 are connected to each other as illustrated inFIG. 6, the engagingportion227 and the engaging-target portion34ado not engage with each other. Therefore, in a state illustrated inFIG. 6, free pivoting of themain pulley31 is restricted by themotor unit221. However, themain pulley31 can be moved without fixing a position of the rotary shaft of thetension pulley34.

If themotor unit221 is driven in a state illustrated inFIG. 6, themain pulley31 pivots.

The pivoting of themain pulley31 is transmitted to the second joint14 via thetransmission member32, thereby drive the second joint14. However, if the rotary shaft of thetension pulley34 is moved when driven, there is a possibility that the movement of thetransmission member32 may become unstable. Therefore, a user operates theswitch225 before themotor unit221 is driven to cause the rotary shaft of thetension pulley34 to be fixed such that the rotary shaft of the tension pulley is immovable with respect to theinsertion portion10 and themain pulley31, and the pivoting of thetension pulley34 is not hindered. That is, the user pushes theproximal portion226aof themain body226 such that the engagingportion227 and the engaging-target portion34aare engaged with each other as illustrated inFIG. 7, and the user pushes thetension pulley34 against a fixingmember37 attached to the housing36 (fixing step). It is preferable that the fixingmember37 is formed of a material which can generate a sufficient frictional force between thetension pulley34 and the fixingmember37. For example, the fixingmember37 can be formed of rubber.

When themotor unit221 is driven after the position of the rotary shaft of thetension pulley34 is fixed, the second joint14 can be driven in a state where the movement of thetransmission member32 is stable. At this moment, the pivoting of thetension pulley34 is not hindered such that a force amount required for driving thetransmission member32 is not substantially changed. Also, since thetransmission member32 is driven only when themotor unit221 is driven, a magnitude of the tension applied to thetransmission member32 is not substantially changed after the fixing step is performed.

In a case where theinstrument unit2 is exchanged, theswitch225 is returned to an initial position, and thehousing36 is detached from theexterior member228. In theinstrument unit2 detached from theadapter220d, thetension holding portion40 is appropriately operated, thereby holding the magnitude of the tension applied to thetransmission member32.

As described above, in the medical instrument1 according to the present embodiment including theinstrument unit2 and theadapter220d, thetension holding portion40 is disposed in thetransmission member32 arranged between themain pulley31 and the second joint14 of theend effector20. Therefore, even if a user does not perform active action such as turning a screw with a screwdriver, a magnitude of the tension applied to thetransmission member32 is held substantially equal to that of initial tension. Accordingly, it is not necessary to perform a complicated operation in order to maintain or adjust the tension applied to thetransmission member32. The tension is preferably prevented from becoming excessively great or excessively small.

Even if theinstrument unit2 is used in any arrangement configuration, since the magnitude of the tension applied to thetransmission member32 is held substantially equal to that of the initial tension, an environment for using the medical instrument may not be limited.

Furthermore, in a case where theinstrument unit2 is stored for a long time, in a case where theinstrument unit2 receives an impact during transportation, or in a case where theinsertion portion10 or thetransmission member32 expands or contracts after sterilization treatment is performed, the tension is held by thetension holding portion40. Accordingly, when theinstrument unit2 starts to be used, the magnitude of the tension applied to thetransmission member32 is held satisfactorily.

Since theadapter220dis provided with theswitch225 which can fix the position of the rotary shaft of thetension pulley34 so as to be immovable, theend effector20 can be suitably driven by fixing thetension pulley34, after themain pulley31 and themotor unit221 are connected to each other in a state where proper tension is applied to thetransmission member32. As a result, it is possible to prevent a tension variation amount from being added to the tension of thetransmission member32, and it is possible to suitably prevent controllability from becoming poor.

Furthermore, thetransmission member32 causes the annular power transmission route to be formed between themotor unit221 and theend effector20. Therefore, even if any section of the power transmission route becomes slack, the slack can be suitably removed by the movement of thetension pulley34. Therefore, a position for disposing thetension holding portion40 can be more freely selected, and thedrive portion30 can be easily configured.

In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which theswitch225 is operated so as to fix thetension pulley34 after themotor unit221 and themain pulley31 are first connected to each other and the power portion and thetransmission member32 are connected to each other. However, the instrument unit and the adapter may be configured so that the movement of thetension pulley34 is stopped concurrently or substantially concurrently when themotor unit221 and themain pulley31 are connected to each other. In such a configuration, for example, the initial position of the engagingportion227 of theswitch225 may be removed, or theswitch225 may be driven so as to approach thetension pulley34 in synchronization with the approach between themain pulley31 and themotor unit221.

It is preferable that thetension holding portion40 is operable until themain pulley31 and themotor unit221 are connected to each other. Accordingly, timing for fixing thetension pulley34 may be set to be concurrent with or slightly later than when themotor unit221 and themain pulley31 are connected to each other.

In order to connect the motor unit and the transmission member to each other, drive force transmission may be switched on or off A configuration may not be necessarily adopted in which both of these are physically separated from each other. Therefore, a configuration may be adopted in which the drive force transmission can be switched on or off by a clutch while both of these are always physically connected to each other.

According to the configuration in the present embodiment, a force obtained by deducting the gravitational force applied to thetension pulley34 from the tension generated by thetension generation member35 is applied to thetransmission member32. Accordingly, in view of this point, a magnitude of the tension to be generated by thetension generation member35 may be set.

Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference toFIGS. 8 and 9. A different point between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is a configuration of the tension holding portion. In the following description, the same reference numerals will be given to configurations which are common to those which are previously described, and thus, repeated description will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a side view schematically illustrating aninstrument unit51 according to the present embodiment. Atension holding portion52 has two tension pulleys34, and thetransmission member32 is also hung on the two tension pulleys34. The two tension pulleys34 are axially supported by acommon support portion53 so as to be pivotable. An end portion of thetension generation member35 is connected to thesupport portion53.

In the medical instrument according to the present embodiment which has theinstrument unit51, similarly to the first embodiment, it is also not necessary to perform the complicated operation. A magnitude of the tension applied to the transmission member can be held substantially equal to that of the initial tension.

Thetension holding portion52 has a plurality of the tension pulleys34. Accordingly, a movement range of thetension pulley34 moved due to the tension adjustment can be minimized, compared to that according to the first embodiment. As in the present embodiment, in a case where thetension holding portion52 has the two tension pulleys34, the movement range of thetension pulley34 which is required for removing a certain amount of slack is ½ of that according to the first embodiment. In this manner, the medical instrument can be configured to be miniaturized by configuring thedrive portion30 to be more compact.

In the present embodiment, the number of the tension pulleys can be appropriately set, and three or more may be provided. As in a modification example illustrated inFIG. 9, a plurality of the tension pulleys34 may be independently arranged so as to be movable, and thetension generation member35 may be connected to the respective tension pulleys34.

Next, a third embodiment according to the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 10. A different point between the present embodiment and the above-described embodiments is a configuration of the tension holding portion.

FIG. 10 is a side view schematically illustrating aninstrument unit61 according to the present embodiment. A distance in theannular transmission member32 increases inside thedrive portion30, compared to the inside of theinsertion portion10.

Atension holding portion62 according to the present embodiment has two tension pulleys, similarly to the second embodiment. In contrast, onetension pulley63ais hung on afirst region32aon the upper side of thetransmission member32, and theother tension pulley63bis hung on asecond region32bon the lower side of thetransmission member32. The two tension pulleys63aand63bare connected to each other by thetension generation member35.

In the medical instrument according to the present embodiment which has theinstrument unit61, similarly to the above-described embodiments, it is also not necessary to perform the complicated operation. A magnitude of the tension applied to thetransmission member32 can be held substantially equal to that of the initial tension.

Since thetension pulley63ais arranged in thefirst region32aand thetension pulley63bis arranged in thesecond region32b, wherein thefirst region32aand thesecond region32bare located on both sides of the second joint14, the slack occurring in thefirst region32aand thesecond region32bis suitably removed by the tension pulleys63aand63brespectively. As a result, even when frictional forces applied to thetransmission member32 are different from each other between thefirst region32aand thesecond region32bdue to a shape of the flexible portion11, the slack is prevented from remaining in one region. Therefore, it is possible to more suitably hold the tension applied to thetransmission member32.

Furthermore, the twotension pulley63aand63bare connected to thetension generation member35. In this manner, the weights of the tension pulleys can be compensated with each other. As a result, it becomes less necessary to consider the weight of the tension pulley in setting the tension generation member. Therefore, the initial tension is easily set.

The respective embodiments according to the present invention have been described. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, the combination of the configuration elements can be changed, various modifications can be added to the respective configuration elements, or the configuration elements can be deleted.

For example, a guide for regulating the movement direction of the tension holding portion may be disposed in the housing. In this case, without depending on a posture of the drive portion, the movement of the tension holding portion can be stabilized.

In the above-described respective embodiments, an example has been described in which the tension generation member pulls the transmission member in the direction away from the insertion portion and the main pulley. Alternatively, a configuration may be adopted in which a pushing spring is used as the tension generation member so as to push the transmission member in contact in the direction away from the insertion portion and the main pulley. If the friction is less generated between the transmission member and the movable portion, the movable portion may not necessarily be the pulley.

In the present invention, the power transmission route may not necessarily be formed in the annular shape. In a schematic view of a modification example illustrated inFIG. 11, twolinear transmission members32 are arranged between themain pulley31 and the second joint14. Since each end portion of the transmission members are respectively fixed to themain pulley31 and the second joint14, although it seems like that the transmission member forms a loop, the two transmission member are not connected to each other, accordingly, the power transmission route has no annular shape. Even according to this configuration, substantially the same advantageous effect can be obtained by disposing the tension holding portion in at least one (preferably, both sides) of thetransmission members32 which are located between themain pulley31 and theend effector20.

Even in a case where the power transmission route is formed in the annular shape, a configuration is not limited to the above-described aspect. For example, the annular transmission member may be engaged using friction by being wound around between the power portion and the end effector.

The end effector according to the present invention includes various types. For example, as in a modification example illustrated inFIG. 12, anend effector20A may be employed in which anobservation unit80 having anobservation portion81 having an image sensor element and anillumination portion82 having a light source is attached to the second joint14. Even in a case of the end effector functioning as gripping forceps, as in anend effector20B according to a modification example illustrated inFIG. 13, a configuration may be adopted in which a pair ofjaws85 and86 are driven by thetransmission member32. Although not illustrated inFIG. 13, thejaw86 is attached to another opening/closing pulley separate from an opening/closingpulley87 having thejaw85 attached thereto. Another main pulley and transmission member are connected to the separate opening/closing pulley. According to this configuration, thejaws85 and86 can be respectively pivoted. The pivoting operations of a pair of the jaws are caused to cooperate with each other, thereby enabling the jaws to function as the gripping forceps. In addition to these configurations, the end effector according to the present invention also includes a bending mechanism having multiple joint rings or bent pieces, and a joint disposed in the insertion portion.

Furthermore, in the above-described respective embodiments, an example has been described in which the insertion portion has the flexible portion. However, the flexible portion is not essential in the medical instrument according to the present invention. Even if the medical instrument includes a so-called rigid insertion portion having no flexible portion, in a case where the transmission member is flexible, an advantageous effect can be obtained. However, in a case where the insertion portion includes the flexible portion, the route length of the transmission member is likely to be changed. Accordingly, a greater advantageous effect according to the present invention is obtained.

The medical instrument according to the present invention is not limited to those which include the electric power portion such as the motor. Therefore, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a user's operation input serves as a direct power source, for example, a manual medical instrument which includes a dial knob as the power portion. In this case, as long as the user does not perform the operation input, power is not transmitted to the transmission member. Accordingly, the dial knob serving as the power portion may be always connected to the transmission member.

The number of joints disposed in the insertion portion or a free degree of the medical instrument realized by the number of joints may be appropriately set.

The respective embodiments according to the present invention have been described. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention, the combination of the configuration elements in the respective embodiments can be changed, various modifications can be added to the respective configuration elements, or the configuration elements can be deleted. The present invention is not limited by the above description.

The embodiments of the invention have been described above with reference to the drawings, but specific structures of the invention are not limited to the embodiments and may include various modifications without departing from the scope of the invention. The invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments and is limited only by the accompanying claims.

Claims (7)

What is claimed is:

1. A medical instrument comprising:

an instrument unit comprising:

an end effector fulfilling a predetermined function; and

a wire;

an adapter comprising:

a motor for generating power to drive the end effector; and

a fixing portion; and

a tension holding portion comprising:

a pulley movable in translation along a direction and with which the wire comes into contact; and

a spring for biasing the pulley;

wherein the tension holding portion being configured to maintain a tension applied to the wire at a predetermined magnitude due to a movement of the pulley in the direction;

the wire is connected to both the end effector and the motor so as to transmit the power generated by the motor to the end effector;

the fixing portion is configured to fix a position of the pulley; and

when the instrument unit is mounted on the adapter, the motor and the wire are connected with each other while the pulley is fixed by the fixing portion so as to be immovable in the direction.

2. The medical instrument according toclaim 1, wherein the pulley comprises a plurality of pulleys.

3. The medical instrument according toclaim 2, wherein at least two of the plurality of pulleys are biased by one of the spring or two or more springs.

4. The medical instrument according toclaim 1, wherein an annular power transmission route is formed between the motor and the end effector by the wire.

5. An adjustment method of a medical instrument including an instrument unit having an end effector that fulfills a predetermined function and a wire, an adapter having a motor that generates power to drive the end effector and a fixing portion, the wire being connected to the end effector and the motor so as to transmit the power to the end effector, the adjustment method comprising:

applying a tension having a predetermined magnitude to the wire by a tension holding portion that has a spring and a pulley biased by the spring and with which the wire comes into contact; and

fixing a position of the pulley in translation,

wherein when the instrument unit is mounted on the adapter, the motor and the wire are connected with each other while the pulley is fixed by the fixing portion so as to be immovable in translation.

6. The adjustment method of a medical instrument according toclaim 5, further comprising:

prior to the step of fixing the position of the pulley, connecting the motor and the wire to each other so that the power is capable of being transmitted.

7. The adjustment method of a medical instrument according toclaim 5, wherein slack in the wire is removed by applying the tension having the predetermined magnitude to the wire.

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